Democracies need both strength and flexibility-enough structure to transform a kaleidoscope of public opinion into coherent debate and effective policy, but enough openness to protect individual rights. Finding this balance is a particular challenge in ethnically diverse emerging democracies. Political parties usually serve a country best...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Feb. 2) – The Japanese cruise ship Asuka is to visit Papua New Guinea next January with some 450 Japanese tourists.

The Captain of the ship, Saburo Tanaka, and PNG Japan Ltd managing director Masaru Tatsuzawa, are in the country mapping out areas the tourists might be interested to visit.

The tourists are planning a 40-day stay in the country.

Mr Tatsuzawa said the vessel will land in Madang about 100 tourist will disembark and fly to Goroka, and then onto Tari in Southern Highlands province before leaving the mainland for Rabaul in East New Britain province.

The vessel will spend only one night in Madang before departing for Cairns, Australia, where the 100 tourist will fly there from PNG and join their other colleagues before the ship departs for New Zealand.

The ship’s captain Mr Tanaka said Asuka is the biggest Japanese tourist cruise ship based in Tokyo Japan.

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Feb. 1) - The Pacific Basin Development Council is working with the Federal Aviation Administration in the deployment of at least a partial or "bare-boned" staffing to open up the Midway airport for emergency landings, Gov. Juan N. Babauta reported.

Babauta, the PBDC president, cited the organization's steadfast efforts to lobby for the reopening of the Midway airport as among the group's main agenda, in addition to homeland security and other regional issues.

"It [airport] was closed for a while basically because of costs and because of hazards with respect to the birds there because the birds get into the engine of the aircraft. And basically just manning the whole place. There's hardly anybody there," explained Babauta.

Midway is an atoll in the northwestern part of the Hawaiian archipelago.

"I know that this is not a direct benefit [to the CNMI] but by the efforts of the PBDC, having Midway...

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (Samoa News, Jan. 26) – The former director of the Department of Education (DOE), Dr. Sili Sataua, who resigned late last year after several appearances before the Senate Select Investigation Committee and a barrage of publicity over his mismanagement and abuse of the federally funded School Lunch Program, has been appointed as special assistant to director Mike Sala, of the Office of Territorial and International Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement (OTICIDE).

OTICIDE houses the South Pacific Islands Criminal Intelligence Network (SPICIN) and the United States INTERPOL Pacific Sub-Bureau of the United States Department of Justice.

Although the SSIC had recommended to the Attorney General's office to investigate the former DOE Director for prosecution for his role in the School Lunch scandal, no criminal charges have ever been pressed by the government.

KAUAI, Hawaii (The Garden Island, Feb. 1) - According to Kaua'i Film Commissioner Tiffani Lizama, fierce competition, a statewide economic downturn and the high cost of doing business in Hawai'i contributed to a decline in major-motion-picture prospects on the island last year.

But she is confident that 2004 will be more productive.

"Even though we weren't selected for a (major) feature last year, we did have many inquiries," said Lizama.

"And a major production fell through at the last minute because of a conflict with the principal's schedules. That project is in turnaround and still may be able to work its way through the studio system and onto Kaua'i."

She added, "I really can't predict the future, but I do know that Hollywood remembers Kaua'i and would always like to return. I hear that often when I'm talking to contacts on the Mainland."

Despite not having a major feature for 2003, Lizama said that Kaua'i was selected...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Feb. 1) - The Second Senatorial District has reportedly agreed to turn over at least two of its idle generators to the Northern Islands as part of efforts to help its residents resettle into the remote islands.

Saipan senator Luis P. Crisostimo made the announcement in a media conference Friday, which he vowed to conduct monthly.

Crisostimo officially informed Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan of the assistance being offered by Tinian, as both headed to the island on Friday to personally identify the generator units that would be sent to either Pagan or Alamagan.

The generators are envisioned to light up portions of the Northern Islands, especially Pagan which is reportedly now populated by 20 individuals.

"It [generators] would probably be suitable for Pagan. The residents really want to move back to Pagan and I think it's more populated there. Everything is feasible in that island. We can...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Feb. 1) - Fiji’s military commander has reportedly tried to allay fears of instability in the country by saying that there is no cause for a clash between the government and armed forces.

Following the renewal of his term as military commander last week, Commodore Frank Bainimarama told the Sunday Times that the issue is now "water under the bridge" and there is no cause for any fear.

A recent war of words between Bainimarama and a top Fiji minister raised concerns of another possible military coup in Fiji.

Bainimarama said interest shown in Fiji by investors says a lot about the stability of the nation and the military’s role in helping restore it since the coup.

On whether the military is the only body capable of ensuring the Fiji stays on a constitutional path, Bainimarama says the military’s role is clearly stipulated in the constitution and there is no question about it.

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Feb. 1) - The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Department of Finance has notified the federal court of the close to $600,000-tax lien it is levying on Telesource CNMI Inc., the company involved in the construction of the multimillion-dollar Saipan prison project.

Revenue and Taxation director Estrellita S. Ada said the CNMI government has demanded payment for the liability, but the company has yet to settle the obligation.

The alleged unpaid taxes, which total exactly $592,324.58, cover tax periods from 2001 to 2003.

"Therefore, there is a lien in favor of the CNMI on all property and rights to property belonging to the taxpayer for the amount of these taxes and any additional penalties, interest and costs that may accrue," the notice stated.

Construction work on the prison project slowed down sometime last year, with Telesource complaining about the government's delayed payments. Work on the...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.